Know Your Ingredients: Bismuth Oxychloride

What it is
Bismuth Oxychloride is a white powder that seldom occurs in nature. It is usually made by combining bismuth, a by-product of lead and copper metal refining, with chloride and water.

What it does
Bismuth Oxychloride adheres well to skin, helping makeup stay on longer.
It also gives skin a silky feel and either a white shimmer or pearlescent matte finish. The glow reflects light away from the skin, helping to hide wrinkles and fine lines.
It is also used as a colouring agent: it imparts a white colour to cosmetics and personal care products.
In addition, it is an absorbent agent and a thickener.

Side effects
Bismuth Oxychloride has a unique unique crystalline structure. That means that its crystal can get stuck into the pores and irritate skin. This can cause rednes, itching, and aggravate rosacea.
Bismuth Oxychloride is not allowed to be used in lip products.

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Lisa: Do you mean their powder foundation? I’m using that and although I try to steer clear of products containing this ingredients it says on the label only that it MAY contain Bismuth Oxychloride. So, I’m not sure if Bismuth is even in the product, it may contain a lot or nothing at all. I didn’t have any negative reactions but you might want to stay away from it if it causes problems for you.

I have used Bare Minerals for years. Have had several health issues, like a hysterectomy full of cysts last year and terrible bloating and digestive issues since. I just had a hair test test done for heavy metals because of all the problems to find what might be the problem. The test came back “very high” for Bismuth and “high” for Titanium. Am not sure the reasons for the other heavy metals, but am sure Bare Minerals is the culprit for the Bismuth and Titanium. If your experience health issues, please contact a Chiropractor to have a heavy metal test as well. I will surely check ingredients from now on, and will never use cosmetics with these two ingredients again.

Helen Madison, I’m sorry to hear that, it’s really awful. I hope you are well now. It seems strange to me though that Bare Escentuals was the cause of your problems as the amount of Bismuth Oxychloride and Titanium Dioxide used in cosmetics are small and safe for use, especially when they are only used topically and not inhaled or ingested. But I guess it’s a good idea to stay away from them, just to be on the safe side..

The same exact thing happened to me. Thrown it out! That gave me a uncurable painful digestive disorder and has complicated my life like you wouldn’t even know..all the days I had to take off work because of it. Bare minerals is disgusting.